Covering structure



y 4, 1965 R. c. SCHROTER ETAL 3,181,275

COVERING S TRUCTURE Filed Jan. 30, 1961 IN VEN TORS- RICHARD c. ScI/ROTA'R AM A WOOD United States Patent 3,181,275 lCUVERHJG dTRUCTURE Richard C. Schroter, Berkeley, and .lames A. Wood, Danviile, Caiiti, assignors to Kaiser Aluminum 8r Chemical Corporation, Qahland, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 30, 1961, Ser.-No. %5,9ll0 3 Claims. (Cl. 50-66) This invention relates to covering structures for the cor- 11ers of buildings. More particularly, it is concerned with providing a novel covering structure or soifit assembly for the overhanging eave portions of a building wherein novel means are employed for anchoring or holding a sofiit panel in place.

Accordingly, it is the primary purpose of this invention to provide an improved soifit assembly for a building wherein novel means are employed for securely anchoring a cover or closure panel to an outside wall and the overhanging eave portion of a building irrespective of the angular disposition of the closure panel with respect to the anchoring means.

The various objects and advantages of the instant invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the soifit assembly of the instant invention as installed on a building between an eave portion and the adjacent outside wall and with the initial step of installing the closure panel being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of soffit assembly; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view generally taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

With further reference to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, the soffit assembly of the instant invention is generally comprised of a pair of elongated and preferably metal molding strips 1' and 1'. Each of these molding strips can be considered as having, at least in part, a configuration whereby it is provided with hollow and generally fan-shaped interiors or chambers 2 and 2 of relatively large size and small access mouths 3 and 3/ which communicate with these hollow interiors.

One of the molding strips, such as molding strip 1, includes an outwardly and then downwardly projecting resilient and springy upper jaw element 4 which can be of double thickness. The upper portion 4' of the jaw element 4 terminates in a generally upwardly and inwardly projecting resilient nailingfiange element 5. The under portion 5' of the jaw element 4. merges into a downwardly and then somewhat inwardly projecting wall or flange element 6 provided with a tensioning shoulder or bead 6' which engages the wall surface '7 on the outside of the building.

Molding strip 1 is completed by means of an upwardly curved resilient and springy lower jaw element 8 which merges at the bottom with the tensioning bead 6. law element 8 terminates at the top in a lip 9 which can be or double thickness. The lip 9 of jaw element 3 and the lip 16 of jaw element 4 engage a panel 11 which is thrust through the open access mouth 3 and into the hollow interior 2 of molding strip 1. It is to be observed that the lip 14 can be advantageously offset a predetermined disstance outwardly of the lip 9 of the jaw element 3 so as to facilitate entry of the panel 11 into the sofiit assembly and the maneuvering of the end of panel 11 therein during installation.

The cooperating molding strip 1 is advantageously comprised of an upper segment or anchoring core section 12. Core element or section 12 includes a resilient and springy jaw element 13 provided with a preferably rounded off or folded back lip portion 14. law element 13 merges with an upwardly and somewhat inwardly projecting wall 15, and wall 15 is bent back upon itself to form an outer nailing or anchoring flange 16. Flange 16 is secured by suitable means such as nails 16' to the depending facia or eave plate 17 secured to rafters 17. Flange 16 and wall 15 advantageously form an anchoring pocket 18 therebetween. The lower portion of wall 16 terminates in an inwardly projecting locking shoulder or step portion 19 which includes a downwardly projecting flange 19'.

The sectionalized molding strip 1' shown in FIG. 1 is completed by means of a removable snap-on lower section 24 which includes an upwardly directed leg or wall element 21, a lower jaw element 22 connected thereto, a head or step 23, and an angled leg element 25.

It is contemplated that during the use of the particular soilit assembly shown in FIG. 1 the panel element 11 would be inserted first within the mouth 3 of the molding strip 1 at the proper angle and it will be noted by reference to FIG. 1 that the entry and finally installed angle of the panel 11 can be advantageously varied over a wide range depending on particular installation conditions. Afterone edge of the panel 11 has been engaged by the jaws d and S of molding strip 1 which has been secured to the wall 7 by suitable means such as nails 3t driven through the nailing flange 5, the opposing edge of panel 11 is engaged in the manner shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 by lip 26 of the jaw 22 of snap-on section 26 of molding strip 1'. The lower section 26 is then moved upwardly until the leg element 25 enters the pocket 18 of the molding strip 1' and the bead 23 snaps over and becomes seated on the inwardly projecting step or shoulder 1%. When this happens, the molding strip section 26 becomes firmly locked in position while at the same time removably and resiliently locking panel element 11 to the molding strip 1. In the event that for any reason it is desirable to unlock the lower section 2 0 from upper section 12, all the operator need do is to insert a suitable tool in between the bend 22' in section 26 and board 17. When the tool is in this position and pivoted inwardly towards building surface 7, it Will effect an inward movement of section 26 until'bead 23 on section 20 slips out of engagement with the shoulder 19 on section 12 and then drops down along with the edge of panel 11 engaged by the jaw element 22 of section 2d.

By virtue of the resilient clamping engagement of the various jaw elements of the several molding strips with the edges of the panel 11, the panel 11 will be securely and resiliently engaged and clamped between the molding strips regardless of any expansion and contraction therebetween. Since the inner hollow interiors 2 and 2' of the various molding strips 1 and 1' are fan-shaped and of considerably greater size than the access mouths? and 3', the molding strips will within the limits of the sizes of interiors Z and 2' engage the panel 11 and hold it in place irrespective of the angular disposition of the panel with respect to either one of the molding strips. This, in turn, means that the molding strips can be disposed at substantially the same level with respect to one another or at different levels while at the same time securely engaging the panel 11 disposed therebetween. It is to be understood, of course, that the molding strips can be of any length; that the panels 11 can be corrugated or flat, perforate or imperforate; and that the panels which can be advantageously made of metal can also overlap one with an other, while at the same time being securely held between the jaw elements of the molding strips. The lips of the jaw elements of the molding strips are advantageously .shaped in cross section.

rounded ofl so as to facilitate sliding engagement with the edges of a panel 11 during installation.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention and as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, one of the molding strips may have a somewhat modified configuration while still retaining all of the basic features and advantages of the molding strips disclosed in FIG. 1. For example, in the case of the outside molding strip 40 of FIGS. 2 and 3, this molding strip is also, at least in part, generally fan- Thus, the molding strip 40 is provided as in the case of molding strips 1 and 1' with converging upper and lower resilient clamping jaw elements 42 and 43, respectively. Clamping jaw elements 42 and 43 encompass a narrow access mouth 44. The access mouth 44 communicates with the enlarged fanshaped hollow interior or chamber 45 of the molding strip 40 and an edge of a panel 11' is thrust through mouth 44 and into chamber 45.

The portion of molding strip 40 provided with the fanshaped hollow interior 45 is suitably suspended from the end of a resilient and somewhat L-shaped hanger or support 50. The outside leg 51 of hanger 50 can serve as a nailing or anchoring flange for securing molding strip 40 to a rafter 52 or a facia board as the case may be such as facia board 17 by means of nails 54. A suitable gutter or roof cap 55 can, if desired, be placed over the edge of the rafter 52.

Due to the peculiar configuration of the hollow interior 45 of the molding strip 4-0, it can be disposed in the same or a different plane with respect to a molding strip 1. It is to be understood, of course, that the various molding strips 1, 1' and 40 can be interchangeably used with each other depending upon the results desired. Since the jaw elements of the molding strips are relatively unrestrained they can be flexed over a relatively wide range without losing contact with the panel 11.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention has been shown and described. It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A soflit assembly for a building comprising the combination of a pair of spaced molding strips and a panel, each of said spaced strips including a flange for anchoring the strip to the building; each of said strips including unrestrained, convergent, resilient jaw elements; said jaw elements being arranged to define a hollow interior and to terminate adjacent a mouth in communication with the interior; said panel being mounted between said spaced strips with the opposing edges of said panel projecting in an unobstructed fashion through the mouths of said molding strips the mouth of one strip being disposed in opposing relationship to the mouth of the other strip, said jaw elements of each strip being arranged to clampingly engage the associated opposing edge of said panel regardless of the angle at which said panel is disposed therebetween.

2. A sofiit assembly for a building comprising the combination of a pair of spaced molding strips and a panel, each of said spaced strips including a flange for anchoring to the building; each of said strips including unrestrained, convergent, resilient jaw elements; said jaw elements being arranged to define a hollow interior and to terminate adjacent a mouth in communication with the interior, one of said jaw elements of each strip being olfset outwardly with respect to its associated jaw element, the access mouth of each strip being disposed at an angle to its anchoring flange; said panel being mounted between said spaced strips with the opposing edges of said panel projecting in an unobstructed fashion through the mouths of said molding strips, the mouth of one strip being disposed in opposing relationship to the mouth of the other strip, said jaw elements of each strip being arranged to clampingly engage and to maintain contact with the associated opposing edge of said panel irrespective of the angle at which said panel is disposed therebetween.

3. A sotfit assembly for a building comprising the combination of a pair of spaced molding strips and a panel; each of said spaced strips including a flange for anchoring the strip to the building and unrestrained convergent resilient jaw elements; the jaw elements of each strip being arranged to define a hollow interior and to terminate adjacent a mouth that communicates with the interior; one of the jaw elements of one strip being offset outwardly with respect to its associated jaw element; the other of said strips being provided with an upper section that includes one of said jaw elements, a pocket portion and a stepped portion, and .a lower snap-on section which includes a jaw element, a leg element Which projects into the pocket portion of the upper section and a bead which slips over and seats on the stepped portion; the mouths of said strips being in opposed relationship to each other and said panel being mounted between said spaced strips in such a fashion that the opposing edges of the panel project in an unobstructed fashion through the mouths of said molding strips, whereby the jaw elements of each strip can clampingly engage the associated opposing edge of the panel regardless of the angle at which the panel is disposed therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,040,572 10/ 12 Otterson.

1,656,044 1/28 Cibulas -67 1,942,137 1/ 34 Connell et a1. 189-85 2,206,201 7/40 Plym 189-88 2,250,411 7/41 Baker 50396 2,389,171 11/45 Urbain 50396 X 2,896,559 7/59 Stephens 5066 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

E. C. DARSCH, Examiner. 

1. A SOFFIT ASSEMBLY FOR A BUILDING COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A PAIR OF SPACED MOLDING STRIPS AND A PANEL, EACH OF SAID SPACED STRIPS INCLUDING A FLANGE FOR ANCHORING THE STRIP TO THE BUILDING; EACH OF SAID STRIPS INCLUDING UNRESTRAINED, CONVERGENT, RESILIENT JAW ELEMENTS; SAID JAW ELEMENTS BEING ARRANGED TO DEFIN A HOLLOW INTERIOR AND TO TERMINATE ADJACENT A MOUTH IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR; SAID PANEL BEING MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID SPACED STRIPS WITH THE OPPOSING EDGES OF SAID PANEL PROJECTING IN AN UNOBSTRUCTED FASHION THROUGH THE MOUTHS OF SAID MOLDING STRIPS THE MOUTH OF ONE STRIP BEING DISPOSED IN OPPOSING RELATIONSHIP TO THE MOUTH OF THE OTHER STRIP, SAID JAW 